Spaniard gets backing of UCI ProTeam
Although he was frustrated in his stated goal of aiming for the opening stage of the Tour de France, Fran Ventoso has reason to celebrate with the announcement of an extension to his contract with Team Movistar.
The Spanish rider, who was one of those delayed by a big crash inside the final three kilometres, has inked a deal to remain with the Spanish team until the end of 2013.
It’s a major show of confidence in the rider, but also a logical one: he is the most successful of its riders thus far this year, taking five victories.
He got things underway when he won a stage in the Santos Tour Down Under, then continued with a stage win in the Vuelta a Andalucia and two in the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon.
His biggest win thus far this year is his sprint success in the Giro d’Italia, where he beat Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre ISD) and the rest of the bunch into Fiuggi. That added to the earlier Grand Tour stage win he picked up in the 2006 Vuelta a España.
His goal in this year’s Tour is to join the select group of those to win stages in each of cycling’s three week races. The 29 year old will have several chances, although riders such as Mark Cavendish (HTC Highroad) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo) may make it difficult to do so in a bunch finish. His best hope might be from a smaller group on one of the lumpier stages.